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<br />Page 21
<br />
<br />Staff Report
<br />To: Planning Commission
<br />Subject: Mezesville/Centennial Historic District proposal
<br />March 21,2006
<br />Page 2 of 6
<br />
<br />235,324,328,302-306,334 Standish; 702,720,728,902,915,920,1002,1015,1016,
<br />1028,1103 Warren; and Mezes Park;
<br />APN: 052-252-(020,030,040,060); 052-253-090; 052-254-
<br />(020,030,040,050,060,070);052-255-(030,040,050,060); 052-257-010; 052-258
<br />(010,020,030,040,050,060,070,080,090,1 00,110,120); 052-263-(010,030); 052-264-020;
<br />052-273-(020,030,040,050,060,070); 052-274-(040,050,060); 052-275-030; 052-276-
<br />(010,020,030,070,080,090,100,110,120, 140); 052-277-010; 052-278-
<br />(010,020,030,040,050,060,070,080,090,100,11 0,120); 052-281-(090,100,110,120,130);
<br />052-282-(010,020,090,100,110,120); 052-283-(110,120).
<br />
<br />The proposed "Mezesville/Centennial Historic District" contains a total of 77
<br />separate parcels within its boundaries (see attachment #1). 52 of those parcels
<br />have been designated as "contributing" resources (Le. 51 parcels containing
<br />structures considered for historic designation, plus one historic park site. The
<br />remaining 25 parcels consist of "non-contributing" properties (i.e. properties not
<br />considered historic). In addition to the Mezes Park block, the area's
<br />characteristic wide streets and landscaped planting strips serve as strong
<br />physical reminders of Redwood City's original layout (see enclosed copy of
<br />original 1856 subdivision map). The boundaries of the proposed historic district
<br />deliberately jog around several relatively modern structures which are
<br />architecturally incompatible to the character of the proposed district (Le.
<br />apartment buildings constructed during the second half of the 20th century or
<br />relatively plain modern dwellings built after World War II). Such boundary "jogs"
<br />are common in historic districts because Federal and State standards
<br />established for historic district designation purposes aim to maximize the
<br />concentration of historic resources in a given geographical area.
<br />
<br />DISCUSSION:
<br />
<br />On November 15, 2005, the Planning Commission unanimously supported the
<br />HRAC recommendation to proceed with the proposed designation to designate
<br />the Mezesville/Centennial area as a historic district (see attached minutes)
<br />The City's consultant, Circa Property development Inc. has prepared a report
<br />(under separate Cover) which clearly identifies the specific composition and
<br />unique qualities of the proposed district area. The Mezesville area retains a
<br />unique variety of relatively modest yet well-scaled, traditional housing stock; each
<br />property type relating to a specific period of significance to Redwood City's
<br />growth (see description below). The consultant's report confirms that the subject
<br />area contains a significant concentration of properties that are united historically
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